Today marks the fourth anniversary of Dhamma Wheel's inception in late 2008. During that time we have connected with thousands of people from all over the world, the vast majority of them either Buddhist or with a genuine interest in the Theravada.

David N. Snyder wrote:There are several other Buddhist boards, but virtually all of the others are not this successful. And Theravada is in the minority, compared to other forms of Buddhism. Some numbers:

About 219,000 postsApprox. 54,750 average per yearApprox. 150 average posts per day!

Alexa.com ranking around 200,000 to 350,000 (currently # 77,000 in the U.S.) probably in the top 10 of most visited Buddhist sites? If not the top 10, for sure in the top 100.

We still have the vast majority of the admin/mod team as well as our original members. I'd like to thank members of the ordained sangha for their presence and guidance. I believe that the health of a Buddhist discussion board can be determined by the presence of ordained sangha members. We have been blessed with many monastics joining our online community.

Thank you also for David for your generosity for providing Dhamma Wheel and the moderation team for their tireless and selfless service to the Dhamma and the Dhamma Wheel community. Their commitment and effort to be here as often as they do and applying the terms of service in a rational and consistent manner was the fertile ground in which a culture based on mutual respect and friendliness and an environment relatively free from spammers and trollish behaviour have been nurtured. Thank you also to our founding members and long standing "alumni" members who have been invaluable in providing advice and feedback.

As I have stated time and again, it is the membership that make Dhamma Wheel the place that it is.Thank you for your contributions and companionship on the path.I dedicate my merits to each and every one of you, for sharing this priceless gift of the Dhamma.with metta,

Ben

Learn this from the waters:in mountain clefts and chasms,loud gush the streamlets,but great rivers flow silently.

Bhikkhus, if you develop and make much this one thing, it invariably leads to weariness, cessation, appeasement, realization and extinction. What is it? It is recollecting the Enlightened One. If this single thing is recollected and made much, it invariably leads to weariness, cessation, appeasement, realization and extinction.Anguttara-Nikaya: Ekanipata: Ekadhammapali: PañhamavaggaVSMVMMWBBTBHTWTBTMy Page

This offering maybe right, or wrong, but it is one, the other, both, or neither!Blog,-Some Suttas Translated,Ajahn Chah."Others will misconstrue reality due to their personal perspectives, doggedly holding onto and not easily discarding them; We shall not misconstrue reality due to our own personal perspectives, nor doggedly holding onto them, but will discard them easily. This effacement shall be done."

I was thinking about this the other day. Dr. Snyder, the DW admins and moderator team have made a huge positive impact on Dhamma propagation. Strangers looking for a place to belong are made to feel welcome and the Dhamma is explored in depth. No question is out of bounds, no knowledge withheld. I believe this site is defining Dhamma propagation for the 21st century, keeping the Buddha's timeless teachings alive. This site helps thousands of people to connect and learn. Thinking about the scope of this site brings a tear to my eye!

I see a pyramid of merit:

Dr. Snyder.The administrators.The moderators.The members.

I'm grateful to you all for this beacon of sanity and this sanctuary from the usual narcissism of the web. Most of all, thank you for keeping the Dhamma alive and relevant.

Thank you David for the invaluable resource that Dhamma Wheel has become for me and thousands of others. It has been a pleasure to be a part of this growing community.

The heart of the path is SO simple. No need for long explanations. Give up clinging to love and hate, just rest with things as they are. That is all I do in my own practice. Do not try to become anything. Do not make yourself into anything. Do not be a meditator. Do not become enlightened. When you sit, let it be. When you walk, let it be. Grasp at nothing. Resist nothing. Of course, there are dozens of meditation techniques to develop samadhi and many kinds of vipassana. But it all comes back to this - just let it all be. Step over here where it is cool, out of the battle. - Ajahn Chah

I'm also grateful for all the nuns and monks who offer their wisdom in this place. Sadhu!

May this place continue to florish under the influence of all you noble companions

+1

Kim

+2

Tiltbillings wasn't mentioned, but I'm sure he is included in this thank you. Thanks Tilt.

He turns his mind away from those phenomena, and having done so, inclines his mind to the property of deathlessness: 'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' (Jhana Sutta - Thanissaro Bhikkhu translation)